If justice actually worked the way the American legal system so proudly pats its back for, we would know every name connected to Jefferey Epstein. 

Everyone agrees that Epstein didn’t commit his battery of heinous crimes alone. For example, it was revealed that he had the help of Ghislaine Maxwell. Still, years later, the public isn’t aware of who else was involved. That gap is a major problem—because without names, there’s no accountability. Without accountability, pedophiles are running loose instead of crouching in a corner of 6-by-8 brick walls.

On January 30, around 3.5 million documents were prepared for release. However, public access was capped and controlled, and even Congress doesn’t have full jurisdiction over what ultimately gets made public. Additionally, access to the files for government officials has also been restricted, as lawmakers were required to review documents in controlled environments with limits on what they could take with them. (The Wall Street Journal, 2026) Concerns about monitoring during that process led Representative Pramila Jayapal to describe it as “outrageous abuse of power” (Time Magazine, 2026). In the end, cherry-picked documents are released in waves and packaged as major revelations while other parts remain unavailable—allowing the narrative to be strategically manipulated before the public ever sees the complete story. 

Ironically, despite all the efforts that were likely put into redacting parts of the Epstein files related to Donald Trump, multiple reports and discussions at congressional hearings have alleged that Trump’s name appears more times in the Epstein files than God’s name does in the bible, says New York Times review and subsequent analyses. That is diabolical, to say the least—how hasn’t he been locked up, or at least impeached? 

As English Teacher Dr. Crawford-Garrett argues, “The depth and breadth of the Epstein files reveal that countless individuals in power are implicated in horrific crimes against women. Until they are held accountable in tangible ways, victims will continue to suffer. The US criminal justice system must act now to hold these actors accountable, even those who currently hold high political office.” A case this large has non-mistakable evidence that points to a much wider network of elites. The presence of such high-profile names in the files, such as Bill Gates and Les Wexner, calls for a full investigation, including subpoenas for documents, testimony under oath if warranted, and prosecution if evidence justifies it; just like anyone else would be. According to widely reported accounts, Bill Gates had several meetings with Epstein in the 2010s, while Les Wexner maintained a close relationship with him, including giving Epstein significant control over his financial affairs, according to The Wall Street Journal. In no time, they’ll go from eating “cream cheese” to canned beans-one would hope. In Europe, figures such as Peter Mandelson have faced arrest following document releases, and public pressure surrounding Prince Andrew led to the loss of royal titles and a formal investigation, showing what accountability looks like when political will exists. In contrast, in the United States, despite access to similar records: flight logs, financial ties, and documented relationships, there have been no further efforts. 

Prosecuting those guilty of the heinous, odious crimes revealed in the files is non-negotiable. The pain that victims experienced didn’t end when the abuse stopped. Survivors have spent years dealing with trauma, broken lives, and long-term mental health struggles. Realistically, a few prison sentences don’t even begin to compensate for the reported suicides that are a result of the permanent issues victims face but can never truly escape. And still, we haven’t even been able to do that much for the brave victims who’ve survived the ordeal and are fighting their trauma every day.